How to Make a Perfect Beret
A beret can make a fashion statement, help you deal with a "bad hair" day, or simply keep you warmer in the winter. Although berets are readily available for purchase, making your own can be fun and save you money. Although you can make your beret in just about any type of fabric, a good choice is fleece, which comes in many colors and patterns, is easy to work with and is inexpensive. You will probably want to make several berets for yourself and your friends after you make your first one and see how rewarding the project can be. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Fabric, about 1 yard
- Matching thread
- Scissors
- Tissue paper
- Pencil
- Thread
- Sewing machine
- Straight pins
- Safety pin
Instructions
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1
Tie a length of thread, about 10 inches long, to a pencil. Measure 9 inches from the pencil and cut the thread. Hold 1 inch of the end of the thread against the center of a large piece of tissue paper and draw a circle with the pencil that will have a diameter of 16 inches. Alternatively, trace around the rim of a large mixing bowl that is about 16 inches in diameter.
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2
Draw another smaller circle with a diameter of about 6 inches on another sheet of tissue paper. Use scissors to cut out both circles of paper for the pattern of the beret.
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3
Fold the fabric in half with the right sides facing each other on the inside of the fold and aligning the selvages. Lay the larger circle of paper on the folded fabric. Pin in place. Use scissors to cut through both thicknesses of the fabric, around the outer edge of the circle. Separate the two circles of fabric.
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4
Lay the smaller circle of paper exactly in the center of one of the fabric circles. Pin in place. Cut out this smaller circle to produce a doughnut-shaped ring of fabric.
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5
Lay the fabric ring on the larger fabric circle with the right sides of the fabric on the inside, facing each other and the wrong side facing you. Align the outer cut edge of the circles. Pin in place.
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6
Stitch around the outer circle with a stragiht stitch on the sewing machine, leaving about 1/2-inch seam allowance all the way around.
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7
Cut a strip of fabric that is 2 inches wide by 22 inches long for the beret band. Fold in half lengthwise with the right side of the fabric inside the fold. Pin in place. Stitch with a straight stitch on the machine. Insert a safety pin in one of the short ends of the tube formed and push it into the tube until you can pull it out the other end, turning the band so the right side of the fabric faces you. Press with an iron to keep it flat.
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8
Lay the beret on a flat surface with the wrong side of the fabric facing you and the cutout of the smaller circle facing up. Lay the band along the circumference of the smaller circle to determine the finished length for the band. Allow 1 extra inch for the seam and cut the band to fit this smaller circle. Sew the short ends of the band together to form a ring.
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9
Align the seamed edge of the ringed band with the cut edge of the smaller circle. Pin in place. Stitch the band to the beret, leaving 1/2-inch seam allowance. Press this seam toward the inside of the beret, toward the crown.
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10
Turn the beret right side out. Clip all threads.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Instead of making the band from the fabric, you can buy ribbed ribbon in a matching color and cut it to the required length for the band.
Make your first beret from old, extra fabric and adjust the size of the circles as required to avoid spoiling your fleece fabric. If you prefer a smaller, tighter beret, make smaller circles. If you would rather have a larger, more floppy beret, increase the size of the larger circle.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Dynamic Graphics/Creatas/Getty Images
